all England's daughters. Conceive the complication of my
feelings! —

"Nothing is left me but the resources of friendship — so come,
darling Fleda, before a barrier of ice interposes itself
between my chilled heart and your sympathy.

"Mr. Thorn's state would move my pity if I were capable of
being moved by anything — by this you will comprehend he is
returned. He has been informed by somebody, that there is a
wolf in sheep's clothing prowling about Queechy, and his head
is filled with the idea that you have fallen a victim, of
which, in my calmer moments, I have in vain endeavoured to
dispossess him. Every morning we are wakened up at an
unseasonable hour by a furious ringing at the door-bell — Joe
Manton pulls off his nightcap, and slowly descending the
stairs, opens the door, and finds Mr. Thorn, who inquires
distractedly whether Miss Ringgan has arrived; and being
answered in the negative, gloomily walks off towards the East
river. The state of anxiety in which his mother is thereby
kept is rapidly depriving her of all her flesh — but we have
directed Joe lately to reply, 'No, Sir, but she is expected' —
upon which Mr. Thorn regularly smiles faintly, and rewards the
'fowling-piece' with a quarter dollar —

"So make haste, dear Fleda, or I shall feel that we are acting
the part of innocent swindlers.

C.E."